FC Goa and Bengaluru FC were involved in a hard-fought and entertaining 2-2 draw at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday.

Goals from Cleiton Silva and Juanan in the first and second half respectively had put Bengaluru ahead on the night. However, two quick goals from Igor Angulo on his debut for Goa meant that the sides had to share the spoils in what was the first draw of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21.

Bengaluru had the first effort of the game when Sunil Chhetri dragged an effort from distance wide of the target two minutes into the contest.

Ashique Kuruniyan was the next Bengaluru player to try his luck from range and the 23-year-old did well to force the goalkeeper into a save after he had made a surging run from near the halfway line.

Goa were seeing more of the ball as the game progressed, but it was Bengaluru that were territorially superior and kept probing the Gaurs’ defence more frequently. They were rewarded for their persistence in the 27th minute when a simple long throw into Goa’s box by Harmanjot Khabra evaded everyone before an onrushing Sliva met the ball with his head to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.

The remainder of the half witnessed a similar pattern of play with Goa dominating possession. Bengaluru, though, yet again had the biggest chance before the break when Silva set up Chhetri with a brilliant backheel in the box only for the Bengaluru skipper to scuff his shot.

Angulo did get Goa’s first shot on target in first-half injury time when he directed a cross from the right goalwards. However, Bengaluru’s goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was positioned well to make a comfortable save and ensured his side were ahead at the break.

The Gaurs began the second half in search of an equaliser and were playing on the front foot. Bengaluru, though, were proving to be clinical and doubled their lead by scoring their second three minutes before the hour mark.

Second half substitute Deshorn Brown was involved in the build-up for Bengaluru’s second goal and it was his header off a cross from the left that found its way to Erik Paartalu, who cushioned his own header towards Juanan for the Spaniard to finish with conviction and make it 2-0 for the Blues.

Goa responded by halving the deficit in the 66th minute after substitute Alberto Noguera produced a line-breaking pass and found Angulo with space and time for the Spanish frontman to finish in assured fashion.

Angulo then restored parity by scoring his and Goa’s second goal of the night just three minutes later when he was in the right place inside Bengaluru’s six-yard box to nudge in substitute Alexander Jesuraj’s cross from the right.

Both sides continued to look for a winner and Goa, undoubtedly, finished the game as the stronger of the two sides. Jorge Mendoza even forced Gurpreet into making a save for Bengaluru in injury time but in the end neither team managed to find a winner as the sides shared the spoils.

AWARDS — Hero of the Match: Igor Angulo; Club Award: Bengaluru FC and FC Goa; DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Alexander Jesuraj.

Today’s Match (Nov. 23)
Odisha Vs Hyderabad
GMC Stadium, Gachibowli, Telangana, 7.30 pm

Tomorrow’s Match (Nov. 24)
Jamshedpur Vs Chennaiyin FC
Tilak Maidan, Vasco, Goa, 7.30 pm

Yesterday’s Result
Goa 2 drew with Bengaluru FC 2
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